Rep. Steve Crisafulli Legislative Update

Legislature passed $500 million in tax and fee cuts

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — This year, the Florida Legislature passed $500 million in tax and fee cuts – the largest such reduction in over a decade.

This year, the Florida Legislature passed $500 million in tax and fee cuts – the largest such reduction in over a decade. This included a significant reduction in the taxes, fees, and surcharges related to registering a motor vehicle in our state. These tax and fee reductions, totaling nearly $400 million, took effect September 1. (Image for SpaceCoastDaily.com)

This included a significant reduction in the taxes, fees, and surcharges related to registering a motor vehicle in our state.

These tax and fee reductions, totaling nearly $400 million, took effect September 1.

Reducing these fees will provide needed relief for Florida families by allowing you to keep more of your hard-earned money.

TOURISM ON THE RISE IN FLORIDA

This month, VISIT FLORIDA announced we experienced another record quarter for tourism. Florida saw 24 million visitors during the months of April-June 2014.

We are well on our way to surpassing our goal of having 100 million visitors in Florida in 2014.

Tourism related jobs were also at a record high, with more than 1.1 million Floridians employed in the tourism industry today.

We also learned in a report from Florida TaxWatch that our record tourism numbers from last year boosted job growth by nearly 76,000 jobs.

LEGISLATURE HOLDS SPECIAL SESSION

Judge Terry P. Lewis

In response to rulings issued by Judge Terry Lewis on July 10, 2014 and August 1, 2014 that invalidated Congressional Districts 5 and 10 under the 2012 Congressional map, the Florida Legislature decided to meet in a special session this month to produce a new Congressional map to address the Court’s limited concerns.

The revised Congressional map was sent to Judge Lewis who ultimately issued an order validating this new map. Judge Lewis also ruled that there would be no special election for the affected districts that were changed under the new Congressional map.